What Did the ATSB Find in the Fatal Yeelanna Crop Duster Crash?
Quick answer: Australia's aviation watchdog has found that pilot Jarred Wait, 36, died on 8 September 2025 when his single-seat agricultural aircraft crashed near Yeelanna on South Australia's Lower Eyre Peninsula. He was manoeuvring to avoid a power pole while flying under intersecting powerlines when the aircraft's right wing stalled and flipped at a height from which recovery was not possible.
Key facts
- What: A fatal crop duster crash during aerial spraying, investigated by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB)
- Where: Near Yeelanna, on the Lower Eyre Peninsula, not far from Cummins, South Australia
- When: The crash happened on 8 September 2025; the ATSB final report was released on 5 November 2026
- Reported toll: 1 killed — the pilot, Jarred Wait, 36
- Source: ABC News, 5 November 2026, reporting the ATSB final report
What happened
Jarred Wait was flying a single-seat Air Tractor AT-802A agricultural aircraft, spraying wheat at a ground speed of 130 knots (240 km/h), according to the ATSB final report. While flying under intersecting powerlines, he manoeuvred to avoid one power pole. His flight path was in line with a pole supporting two close powerlines, with about 240 metres between those powerlines.
He tried to correct the turn, avoided the pole and passed both powerlines, and then tried to pull up. The aircraft's right wing stalled and flipped, and the ATSB found the aircraft was at a height from which recovery was not possible. Mr Wait, a 36-year-old farmer and father from the Cummins community, died in the crash.
What the report found
The ATSB's final report, released on 5 November 2026, established the sequence that led to the crash. ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said the pilot was manoeuvring to avoid the pole while flying under the intersecting powerlines, and that the right wing stalled and flipped at a height from which recovery was not possible.
Post-mortem toxicology showed Mr Wait had likely used cocaine within the 24 hours before the crash, but the ATSB said it was unlikely the drug contributed to the crash. The ATSB said pilots need to give careful consideration to the risks of flying in proximity to multiple powerlines.
What has changed since the crash
The aircraft's operator, Aerotech, has amended its operations manual for pilots undertaking aerial spraying, and is implementing GPS hazard marking and alerting. Mr Wait was remembered as a devoted father and a well-loved member of the Cummins community, and as a premiership player for the Cummins Ramblers Football Club.
Frequently asked questions
When did the Yeelanna crop duster crash happen?
The crash happened on 8 September 2025. The ATSB final report into the crash was released on 5 November 2026, more than a year later.
Where did the crash happen?
Near Yeelanna, on South Australia's Lower Eyre Peninsula, north of Port Lincoln and not far from Cummins.
Who died in the crash?
The pilot, Jarred Wait, 36, a farmer and father from the Cummins community. He was the only person in the single-seat agricultural aircraft.
What did the ATSB find caused the crash?
The ATSB found Mr Wait was manoeuvring to avoid a power pole while flying under intersecting powerlines, with about 240 metres between two close powerlines. He tried to correct the turn, avoided the pole and passed both powerlines, then tried to pull up, but the aircraft's right wing stalled and flipped at a height from which recovery was not possible.
Did drugs contribute to the crash?
Post-mortem toxicology showed Mr Wait had likely used cocaine within the 24 hours before the crash, but the ATSB said it was unlikely the drug contributed to the crash.
What has the operator changed since the crash?
The operator, Aerotech, has amended its operations manual for pilots undertaking aerial spraying and is implementing GPS hazard marking and alerting.
In this story
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